For the first part of my review of Marge Jones’s The Psychology of Missionary Adjustment, click here.
Marge Jones puts missionary adjustment into bite sized pieces that draw you into wanting more! Her book Psychology of Missionary Adjustment is a treasure to absorb little by little. Here’s some of what I gleaned from chapter one…
The Pedestal
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)
When God told the church to set apart Barnabas and Saul, He was not calling the church to put them on a pedestal. “They were believers, led by the Holy Spirit, to accomplish God’s purpose for their lives, which is the will of God for all who are followers of Jesus Christ.”
Ms. Jones goes on to say that unfortunately today, we do set on a pedestal so to speak, those who feel called to be missionaries. Simply because they are willing to give up so much for the mission field.
The Vocation
We forget that ANY professional requires God’s choice of the person AND the person’s choice to accept God’s call. Parents and the church may subconsciously think they did something right because of that choice to obey God’s call to the mission field. This puts undue pressure on the missionary, so that they too can subconsciously begin to people-please and tend toward personal pride. Believing their own press releases.This can be detrimental when they arrive overseas.
The Selection
The mission board sets the policies, and usually controls the finances, field assignments, and any necessary disciplinary actions.
Scrutiny goes both ways
The missionary candidate should feel just as free to scrutinize numerous mission boards and organizations just as carefully as they are scrutinized. That is crucial to accept. Don’t just jump at the first offer. Be sure that God is in the center of all your decisions along the way.
The Letdown
The original excitement might be short-lived if there is not a “genuine love for the people the missionary is working with.” Ms. Jones shares survey information about what type of person is best qualified to serve, and the various forms of orientation that organizations offer their candidates. It is an interesting section. I highly recommend you get the book, whether you are a candidate, a missionary already, or love a missionary. The book is chock full of helpful information.
Professional Emotional Support
A qualified counselor (or mentor life coach) with missionary experience…especially during those critical first years on the field…”has been recommended as a method of reducing first-term dropouts.” In her book, she states that the professional counselor/mentor/coach ideally “would not be part of the administration.” From my own personal missionary experience, I totally agree with that point! If you are interested, I can tell you WHY I came to that conclusion.
“Seeing firsthand the adjustment problems facing the new missionaries would help the counselor/coach/mentor make suggestions for behavior modification or attitude change.” I have found in my practice, mentor coaching missionaries, helping them with a simply mindset shift…seeing things from a fresh/different perspective…can make the difference between success or failure, bitter or better, dread or joy! It is often just as simple as that! Truly!
FinancingNormally either the sending agency totally provides or the candidate must raise their own support by presenting the need to organizations or individuals. Several missionaries might be competing for the limited funds from the same churches or individuals. The candidate may feel like a beggar, like using a tin cup to raise small amounts from lots of individual people.
Prayer Support
“The partnership goes beyond finances, to mobilizing prayer and personnel. Interdependence, accountability and reporting should result from this joint relationship.”
Help a Missionary Toward Success
- Purchase the book Psychology of Missionary Adjustment for them.
- Gift a missionary: A minimum of 3 months of Mentor Coaching for a Missionary you know. Contact me and I’ll tell you how to do that!
- Don’t just send gifts. ASK them what they need. And ask what is the best way to get it to them.
- Pray for them. Support them financially without being asked.
Thank you for all you do!
Stay tuned…More next week…
For Part Three "Out of the Womb," click here.
God bless you bunches!
Awaiting His shout,
The MomCourager™
